My Example of Love

Forty years ago, on March 27th, my parents were married.

Forty years.

In this day and age, that's practically an eternity. But it's also a goal. Forty and more. Because I've had the example of their love and marriage my whole life, as well as the marriages of my grandparents (more than 66 years in one and more than 50 in another), and the marriage of my in-laws, who would've hit 40 years if she'd lived that long. I want a love like that.

When my parents got married, they'd dated about three months before becoming engaged and then had about three months before the wedding. I can't even imagine having that all happen on such a short time frame (we dated almost three and a half years before marriage), but it seems to have worked. They've lived at least 8 different places with many more jobs. Raised three children and now have two sons-in-law and five grandchildren added in. People all over the country are their friends because of knowing them one way or another.
He's been a preacher from day one and she's been the epitome of a preacher's wife. I learned hospitality and service and making do from her. From him, I learned how to be friendly to everyone, got my outgoing personality (I'm a rare extroverted author), and was always encouraged to do my best. Their life hasn't always been easy, but it's always had happiness. Through watching them, I learned how to trust God.
It's a shame more marriages don't last that long. That more people can't cling to each other through the hard times as well as the good, growing stronger and closer and more in love. But I'm glad to have several in my life so that I can follow their example.
Do you have couples you look up to when setting your relationship goals? What's the longest people in your family have been married?

3/27/1980

10/20/2019